How much zinc and copper do horses need?
How much zinc and copper do horses need?
The recommended requirements for a 500 kg, mature horse at maintenance consuming 2% of their body weight in dry matter is 100-120 mg of copper per day, and 400-500 mg of zinc per day.
Can a horse get too much copper and zinc?
Amounts greater than 700mg per kg of diet can affect copper absorption, particularly in young horses which can result in Developmental Orthopedic Disease (DOD). Other examples of Zinc toxicity are lameness and stiffness.
How much copper should a horse get?
The National Research Council (NRC) says a 1,100-pound horse at maintenance requires 100 milligrams (mg) of copper a day. This is a tiny amount but it clearly has significant importance. As work load increases there is a small increase in requirement to 125 mg a day.
Is copper and zinc good for horses?
Copper and zinc are required for the horse to make keratin, a protein that is found in hair and hooves. Horses with low levels of copper and zinc might have a coat that is frizzy, dull, or discolored. Zinc and copper supplied in a 3:1 ratio supports a shiny, healthy coat and healthy skin.
Can horses have too much zinc?
The maximum tolerable concentration for zinc in equine diets has been set at 500 mg/kg dry matter, well-above the recommended amount of zinc required by the horse. However, excessive amounts of dietary zinc could interfere with a horse’s copper status.
What happens if a horse gets too much zinc?
Young horses, in particular, have been found to be especially susceptible to zinc poisoning near mines and smelters. The signs of zinc poisoning in foals are lameness, enlarged joints, stiffness, twisted legs, shortened bones, walking on the tips of the hooves, body sores, and a rough coat.
How much zinc does a horse need daily?
Feedstuffs commonly fed to horses contain approximately 15 to 40 mg zinc per kg dry matter. The recommended total dietary zinc intake for a 500-kilogram (1,100-pound) mature horse, idle or used for light exercise, is 400 mg per day (National Research Council’s Nutrient Requirements of Horses, 2007).
Why is copper good for horses?
Copper is a critical element in many important metabolic pathways in horses. Copper is necessary in bone formation, elastin formation, haematopoesis, pigment formation, reproduction and immune system function.
How much zinc should I give my horse?
How do you give a horse zinc?
Wheat bran, wheat middlings and brewer’s grains are good sources of zinc in the equine diet. Most forages are low in zinc, particularly if they are grown in areas with low levels of this mineral in the soil. Horses that are on forage-only diets are likely to require supplementation.
How much zinc should a horse get daily?
Can horses have too much copper?
Copper toxicity in horses is extremely rare and requires very high intake of this mineral. However, high levels can reduce absorption of selenium and iron and interfere with how these are used by the body.
How much copper and zinc does a horse need?
For example, the 2007 Nutrient Requirements of Horses from the National Research Council (NRC) has set the requirements per day for a 500 kg mature horse in light work at 100 mg for copper and 400 mg for zinc. That is per day, many pastures and mixed feeds provide far less than this in copper and usually zinc.
What’s the correct ratio of Zn to CU for horses?
The National Resource Council’s Nutrient Requirements of Horses (2007) recommends that Zn and Cu be fed in a 4:1 ratio (4 parts Zn to 1 part Cu) for mature horses to ensure proper absorption of both minerals.
Why does my horse have a lack of copper?
This condition is often misdiagnosed as a iron deficiency, iron metabolism requires copper containing enzymes so if there is a lack of copper then one of the results is less haemoglobin in the blood. Inadequate copper and/or zinc will produce faded coats on horses, known as ‘sunbleaching’.
How much zinc does a horse lose in sweat?
A significant amount of zinc—about 20-21 mg/l—is lost in sweat. In the hard-working horse, this zinc loss can be substantial. High levels of calcium and copper can reduce zinc absorption, so the kind of hay being fed may have an impact on the amount of zinc required by the horse.
